you've got mail

I'm kind of surprised at how much we've taken to this parenting business. I know I've had very little practice with very little people in my life except the odd cuddle with a friend's bubby - followed by the swift 'pass back to mum' move . But it's true what people say, it all kind of comes to you as you go along... so far anyway.

Despite this, I can't help feeling like we're on some kind of crazy ride, a virtual reality parenting game - a kind of human tamagotchi that we get to feed, change and play with for a while but give back at the end of the game

Occasionally I'm reminded me that it's all very real and for some reason this letter arriving in the post was one of those moments. This was Alex's first piece of mail, a very official looking - note the use of his full name... it's kind of like he's in trouble. And the whole 'parent or guardian of' business reminds me of an bad US drama series, where the parents answer the door and there's two grave-faced policemen saying "mam, are you the parent or guardian of Alexander Auberon Butler?". It turns out it's just a letter from the Home Office with his passport application. So now I'm off to get a passport photo for the little man... at least he's too young to be embarrassed by it.

Hey my name is...

Alexander Auberon Butler arrived (a couple of weeks after his scheduled appearance) on Wednesday March 31st. Delivery challenge over but then the you have to give him a name, how do you decide on a name that this little person will have for the rest of his life? What happens if an embarrassing reality TV contestant appears with the same name at a critical time in the little man's social development? What if P&G release an 'Alex Butler' laxative just before his high school graduation? What if, in a few years time, he suddenly looks like an Elliot (our other name choice) and not at all like an Alex?

OK, I realise I'm being ridiculous but these things go through your mind when you're stuck in hospital, desperate to go home with your beautiful, all be it un-named, little boy. So did the logical thing, and asked every nurse, doctor and midwife who wondered into our hospital room and it was unanimous, he's definitely an Alex... or an Alexander. We went with Dad's surname so mum got to choose the middle name. I wanted something to remind me of my side of the family and decided on my grandfather's name Auberon. Dad also let me know the origin of Auberon I think is fantastic. According to the encyclopedia of baby names The meaning of Auberon is 'noble bear; elf ruler, supernaturally powerful'. You can't argue with that now can you! A variation of the name was also used by William Shakespeare himself for the king of the fairies in a Midsummer Night's Dream - Oberon. Destined for greatness our little Alexander.